Year One Walkthrough
TL;DR
Year One in Stardew Valley focuses on building infrastructure and setting up for long-term success. Key milestones: Spring ends with 10,000g+ saved and Strawberry plants producing; Summer ends with 30,000g+ and Desert access unlocked; Fall ends with 50,000g+ and Community Center mostly complete; Winter ends with 100,000g+, Skull Key obtained, and Greenhouse unlocked. The Egg Festival (Spring 13) is critical for buying Strawberry seeds. Upgrade watering can first for energy efficiency. Complete Vault bundles (42,500g total) for bus access. Target 20+ kegs/preserves jars by end of Year One for massive Year Two profits.
Your first year in Stardew Valley is about learning the game, building infrastructure, and setting up for long-term success. This walkthrough provides a detailed week-by-week plan for each season, with specific goals, recommended activities, and money milestones. Following this guide will ensure you end Year One with a strong foundation for massive profits in Year Two and beyond.
What Should I Do in Spring Year 1?
Week 1 (Days 1-7): Getting Started
Day 1:
- Introduce yourself to all villagers in town. You can meet most of them by walking through the town square, visiting the beach, and checking the forest.
- Plant 15 parsnip seeds (provided by Lewis) in tilled soil.
- Clear a small area of your farm for future planting.
- Forage any wild items you find (daffodils, leeks, dandelions).
Day 2-3:
- Water parsnips daily.
- Continue foraging for wild items.
- Clear more farm land, focusing on removing rocks, weeds, and debris.
- Start fishing with the Bamboo Pole (received from Willy on Day 2 by visiting the beach).
- Repair the beach bridge (300 wood) if possible for access to tidal pool foraging.
Day 4-5:
- Harvest parsnips on Day 5. Sell for approximately 525g (15 parsnips x 35g).
- Buy potato seeds (50g each) and cauliflower seeds (80g each) from Pierreโs.
- Plant potatoes and cauliflower.
- Continue fishing and foraging.
Day 6-7:
- Water all crops daily.
- Continue fishing to level up fishing skill.
- Forage daily for extra income.
- Start saving wood and stone for future crafting.
Week 2 (Days 8-14): First Expansion
- Water crops daily.
- Continue fishing and foraging.
- Clear more farm land for future planting.
- Day 13: EGG FESTIVAL - This is the most important event of Spring. Buy as many strawberry seeds as you can afford (100g each). Plant them immediately. Strawberries regrow every 4 days and produce multiple berries per harvest. This is your only chance to buy strawberry seeds in Year 1.
- Day 14: Continue watering all crops.
Week 3-4 (Days 15-28): Growth and Profit
- Harvest potatoes and cauliflower as they mature.
- Sell or save crops for Community Center bundles.
- Harvest strawberries starting around Day 21. Each harvest produces 2+ berries.
- Continue fishing to level up fishing skill.
- Save gold for summer crop seeds.
- On Spring 5 of Year 2: Enter town from the east to trigger the Community Center cutscene (this actually happens in Year 1 when you first enter the community center area).
What Should I Achieve by End of Spring?
| Target | Goal |
|---|---|
| Gold saved | 10,000g+ |
| Farm cleared | 50+ plantable tiles |
| Fishing Level | 3+ |
| Backpack | Upgraded to 24 slots (2,000g) |
| Strawberry plants | Producing berries |
| Tools | At least copper level |
What Should I Do in Summer Year 1?
Week 1 (Days 1-7): Summer Planting
- Day 1: Plant melons (80g each) and blueberries (80g each) as soon as possible. These are the most profitable summer crops.
- Buy a mayonnaise machine or preserves jar if you can afford one.
- Continue processing spring crops into artisan goods.
- If you have desert access (from completing the Vault bundle), buy starfruit seeds (400g each) from the Oasis.
Week 2 (Days 8-14): Growth and Animals
- Harvest first blueberries (Day 14) and melons (Day 13).
- Replant blueberries for additional harvests.
- Build a coop (4,000g) or barn (6,000g) if you can afford it.
- Buy chickens for daily egg production.
- Continue fishing for income and skill XP.
- Work on Community Center bundles.
Week 3-4 (Days 15-28): Maximizing Summer
- Harvest blueberries every 4 days for continued income.
- Plant hot peppers for quick regrowth and additional income.
- Attend the Luau (Day 11) and Moonlight Jellies festival (Day 28).
- Continue mining for iron and gold ore.
- Process all crops into wine, jelly, or preserves.
- Save gold for fall crop seeds.
What Should I Achieve by End of Summer?
| Target | Goal |
|---|---|
| Gold saved | 30,000g+ total |
| Desert access | Unlocked (Vault bundle) |
| Artisan machines | At least 1 preserves jar or keg |
| Farming Level | 5+ (choose Tiller for crop profits) |
| Animals | At least 4 chickens |
| Mining Level | 40+ (elevator unlocked) |
What Should I Do in Fall Year 1?
Week 1 (Days 1-7): Fall Planting
- Day 1: Plant cranberries (240g per seed) and pumpkins (100g per seed) immediately.
- Plant fairy roses near bee houses for valuable honey.
- Continue processing summer crops into artisan goods.
Week 2 (Days 8-14): Harvest Season
- Harvest cranberries every 3 days for massive income.
- Harvest pumpkins on Day 14. Save one gold-quality pumpkin for the Community Center bundle.
- Spend time in the mines for gold ore and geodes.
- Attend the Stardew Valley Fair (Day 16) and display your best items for points.
Week 3-4 (Days 15-28): Final Fall Push
- Continue harvesting cranberries every 3 days.
- Final pumpkin harvests.
- Process remaining crops into artisan goods.
- Complete as many Community Center bundles as possible.
- Prepare for winter by saving resources.
What Should I Achieve by End of Fall?
| Target | Goal |
|---|---|
| Gold saved | 50,000g+ total |
| Tools | Gold level (at least watering can and pickaxe) |
| Artisan machines | 10+ preserves jars or kegs |
| Community Center | Mostly complete |
| Mining Level | 80+ (gold ore access) |
| Farming Level | 7+ |
What Should I Do in Winter Year 1?
Week 1 (Days 1-7): Tool Upgrades
- Upgrade watering can first (no crops to water).
- Spend time in the mines. Push for Level 120 for the Skull Key.
- Fish for winter-only species (Lingcod, Walleye, Midnight Carp).
- Forage for snow yams and winter roots.
Week 2 (Days 8-14): Mining and Social
- Attend the Festival of Ice (Day 8).
- Continue mining. Reach Level 120 if possible.
- Explore the Skull Cavern if you have the Skull Key.
- Give birthday gifts to winter birthday NPCs.
- Complete Community Center bundles.
Week 3-4 (Days 15-21): Night Market and Planning
- Attend the Night Market (Days 15-17) for unique shopping and the Mermaid Show.
- Build additional farm buildings (sheds for kegs, barns for animals).
- Craft sprinklers for spring automation.
- Design your farm layout for Year 2.
Week 4 (Days 22-28): Final Preparation
- Finish all tool upgrades.
- Attend the Feast of the Winter Star (Day 25).
- Stock up on spring seeds.
- Clear remaining farm land.
- Prepare kegs and preserves jars for spring processing.
- Save as much gold as possible.
What Should I Achieve by End of Year 1?
| Target | Goal |
|---|---|
| Gold saved | 100,000g+ |
| Tools | Iridium or Gold level |
| Greenhouse | Unlocked (from Community Center) |
| Artisan machines | 20+ kegs or preserves jars |
| Ancient Seeds | Obtained (if possible) |
| All skills | Level 5+ |
| Skull Key | Obtained |
What Should I Focus on in Year 2?
After completing Year 1, you should have a solid foundation. Focus on:
- Planting Ancient Fruit in the Greenhouse for infinite wine production.
- Expanding keg operations to 100+ kegs for massive wine income.
- Building a Deluxe Barn with pigs for truffle hunting.
- Unlocking Ginger Island for additional farming and resources.
- Completing the Mastery system for powerful bonuses.
- Aging wine in casks for the highest possible sell prices.
- Completing all Monster Eradication Goals for special rewards.
- Maxing all relationships with villagers for full story completion.
Data Sources: All game data in this guide is based on the official Stardew Valley Wiki and verified against game version 1.6.